Planning commission approves Anderson Town Crossing multifamily phase with TxDOT conditions

The Mount Pleasant Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a Planned Development (PD) site plan for Phase 1 of the Anderson Town Crossing multifamily project, covering 35.663 acres identified as Lots 1 through 8, Block A. The approval includes three staff-recommended conditions tying final plat approval and certificates of occupancy to Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) approvals and to city-reviewed Rotan Road improvements.

A city planning staff member summarized the application and the unusual role TxDOT played in the project, telling the commission the approval would allow on-site construction to proceed while some off-site work — including Tankersley Road and Rotan Road improvements and a traffic signal at the Lowe’s driveway on U.S. 271 — remains subject to TxDOT’s plans and approvals. The staff member said the controlling PD zoning document for the larger development remains in effect and that the commission’s action on this site plan is the final local decision for the phase before final plat and other approvals.

Robert LaCroix, planning director, who said he worked on the PD from the outset, urged clarity on occupancy timing. He told commissioners the city should be explicit that temporary certificates of occupancy may be issued so people can move into completed apartment buildings while some off-site TxDOT work continues.

Commissioners and staff discussed the practical effects of TxDOT’s conditions. Staff and a consultant explained that TxDOT required off-site construction work and a temporary construction driveway as part of the agency’s review; TxDOT’s approval of entrances and the Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) must be in place before the city issues a final plat and final certificate of occupancy. Staff said the development’s infrastructure that serves the apartments has been reviewed and that utilities, landscaping and building elevations conform with the PD zoning design standards. Staff estimated the multi-family phase includes roughly 190 units in the northern buildings shown on the plan.

At the meeting a commissioner moved to approve on the basis of staff recommendation and to include the three conditions the staff had outlined: (1) TxDOT final approval of all entrances per the approved TIA prior to final plat approval; (2) TxDOT final approval of all entrances per the approved TIA prior to issuance of any certificate of occupancy; and (3) city staff approval of improvements to Rotan Road to city specifications. Another commissioner seconded the motion. The commission recorded a unanimous vote in favor and the motion carried.

Staff and a planning consultant noted the project is being phased: as each commercial lot within the PD comes forward it will require separate site-plan review. The consultant and staff also cautioned that TxDOT-controlled timelines for intersection construction and signalization can be lengthy, and that those off-site schedules can affect when final plat and final occupancy certificates become available.

The commission’s action allows on-site construction and building work to proceed under the approved site plan, subject to the stated conditions. Future steps include final plat processing, completion of TxDOT entrance approvals, and site-plan submissions for future commercial lots within the PD.